Steam discharge pressing device



Feb. 16, 1937. F- CLARK STEAM DISCHARGE PREssING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3, 1935 "aff @Ziff/f ff. ff.

ooooooddo @,oooooloo] Patented Feb.16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE STEAM mscnAnGE PaEssrNG DEVICE Application January 3, 1935, Serial No. `253 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pressing irons of that type which are provided with means such, for example, as an electric heating element, for heating the iron and with a 5 steam chamber in which water or wet steam is heated by the iron heating means to furnish steam for discharge at the pressing face of the iron for moistening or steaming the material being pressed; l

ISome goods are spotted or discolored by contact with water and it is therefore important that steam-discharge irons shall be constructed so aS to insure that the steam will be in a superheated or dry condition when discharged against the goods being pressed, and so as to prevent the possibility of any wet steam or water issuing from the steam discharge orifices ofthe iron. Attempts have beenmade to prevent the possibility of spotting' or injuring goods by water in the use .,0 of steaml discharge pressing irons, by employing irons which are supplied with steam from a distant steam generatoror boiler, such irons being provided with means for superheating the steam, and provision being made for preventing any water of condensation from the steam from passing to the steam discharge orifices of the iron. Such irons, however, necessitate an installation including a boiler or generator with exible steam hose leading to the iron, and other more or less 30 complicated or elaborate equipment, making such irons objectionable or impractical for use in some establishments. Because of such reasons, many users prefer the irons in which the steam is generated in or at the irons themselves from water supplied thereto. An objection to these irons,

3' however, is that the steam generating chambers or passages in the irons become clogged or fouled with lime or other scale or impurities deposited or settling from the water which soon interfere 40 with the eicient or proper operation of the iron unless removed at frequent intervals, and the.

previous constructions of such irons make it difcult or impractical to properly rid them of the scale or deposits.

45 The objects of my invention are to provide a steam discharging pressing iron in which the steam is generated from the water supplied to the iron but which is of a novel construction which will insure the proper superheating or dry- 50 ing of the steam and prevent the possibility of discharge of any water from the iron; also to construct the iian so that it can be. used with eitheswater or steam supplied thereto; also to construct the iron so that the water or steam chambers or bores thereof can be quickly and easily cleaned out; also to provide a steam generating device which will insure the quick and complete conversion of any water into steam;

also to provide desirable steam discharge control l Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof on linev 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the iron.

Fig. 5 is a detail section, enlarged, of the re-4 movable gauze roll and cap for the bore containing the roll.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections on line 6-6 and I-'I respectively, Fig. 5. I

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing in connection with an electric pressing iron of known construction which comprises a bottomp'late I0 and a body II above the same, both of suitable metal, an electric heating elementv I'2 interposed between the bottom plate I and body II, a cover I3 enclosing the body Il` and heating element, and a handle I4 for the iron carried by arms rising from the cover I3. As shown, the metal body II is above and secured to the bottom plate I0 by screws I which clamp or secure the electric element I2 between the bottom plate and body II, and the cover is secured in place by a screw I6 passing through the top of the cover and screwed into'a threaded 'hole in the body II. I1 represents the terminals'or studs for releasably connecting the heating element I2' and electrical conductor, and I8 the u sual thermostat arranged 'in va cavity in the bottom of the iron for controlling the temperature of the iron. The construction of the iron as thus far described is that of a known electrically heated pressing iron. My invention is not concerned with the electrical features of the iron, which may be of the usual and suitable construction, and being well known, further description thereof isunnecessary.

The body II of the iron is chambered to re-` ceive water for conversion into steam by the heat from the heating element. Preferably, for this purpose, the body II is drilled to form two straight bores 20 and 2| which extend forwardly in the body from its rear end andconverge toward and arejoined by a chamber 22 in the front portion of the body. This chamber 22 is preferably of circular shape in plan and extends into the body I from the upper face thereof, thus being adapted to be readily formed by drilling or boring. The bores 20 and 2| and chamber 22 all communicate and may be considered as different portions of the same chamber. Although the water is admitted to the rear end of the bore 20 and steam is generated in this bore, and passes therefrom through the chamber 22 and bore 2| on its way to thev steam discharge orifices in the pressing face of the iron, as presently explained, the two bores 20 and 2| and the chamber 22 are all heated so that the chamber 22 and bore 2| will act to furtherl heat and dry any steam generated in the first bore 20 and also to convert into steam any water which may pass into them from the rst bore 20. A top or cover 23 Which closes the upper end of the chamber 22, may be remov-` ably secured in place as by a nut 24 screwed on the threaded upper ,end of a stud 25 which is chamber 22.

Ascrewed or fixed in a hole in the bottom of the chamber 22 and extends out through a central hole in the cover 23. A suitable packing gasket clamped betweenthe rim of the cover and the shouldered rim of the chamber 22 provides a steam-tight joint between the cover and the If needed, a packing washer can also be placed beneath the nut 24. Water is admitted to. the rear end portion of the b ore 20 under control of a supply valve 26, hereinafter described, which is connected to a nipple 21 communicating with the bore 20, and is provided with a water inlet fitting 28' adapted for connection with a exible water supply hose or, pipe, not shown.

The bottom plate I0 of the iron is provided with steam passages which communicate with the steam chamber in the body of the iron and from one or more of which steam discharge orices or perforations lead to the bottom or pressing face of the iron'. Preferably, as shown,jtwo Straight bores 30 extend forwardly in the bottom plate ||l from its rear end and connect with two straight cross bores 3| which extend. obliquely into the bottom plate from opposite sides of its pointed front end. In addition, the bottom plate is provided with two straight bores 32 which extend forwardly'in the bottom plate from itsv -rear end and connect with oblique cross bores 3|,l and these two longitudinal bores 32 are jointed by a transverse bore 33 which connects with a vertical taper bushing or nipple 34 extending up through the heating element l2 and connecting at its upper end with a transverse bore 35 in the body Bore 35 intersects or connects with. the steam chamber 2| in the body so'that steam can pass from the rear portion of the chamber 2| 'through the passage 35, vertical nipple 34 and bores 33 and'32 in the bottom into the oblique bores 3|. Small discharge perforations or oriilces 36 extend from the passages 3|, and also preferably from the connecting passages 30 through the bottom plate to the' pressing face thereof for discharging `the steam at the pressing face of the iron.

Thus, the passages 20 and 2| in the body of the iron are formed by straight bores extending intoithe body from its rear end, and the transverse passage 35 is formedby a straight bore extending into the body from one side edge thereof, and likewise the passages in the bottom plate are formed by straight bores extending in to the botin the body or bottom plate.

tom plate from one or another edge of the plate so that all of these passages can Ybereadily drilled The end of each of the several bores at the rear or side edge of the body or bottom plate may be suitably closed, as by ascrew plug or stopper, 31 representing the plugs for closing the outer ends of the several bores in the bottom plate.

The body being located directly above the heating-element I2, is effectively heated thereby, and the heat is utilized to convert into steam any water in the bores 20 and 2| andchamber 22 in the body l and the bottom plate I0 being arranged directly beneath the heating element, is also hea-ted thereby to the temperaturenecessary for pressing and also for drying or super-heating the steam during its passage through the bores the clogging of the bores, a-roll or cylinder of wire gauze, preferably made by rolling up fine mesh brass wire gauze into a roll of several turns or layers o-f the gauze, extends into each of the bores 20 and 2| through its open rear end. Each of these gauze rolls is of a diameter adapting it to be' easily inserted into and removed from the bore 20 or I2 I, and of a length for its outer end to extend beyond the` bore into a hollow screw cap or member 40 which closes the outer end of the bore. As shown, this cap screws ontova nipple 4| screwed into the threaded outer end of the vbore and through which the gauze roll extends. 'Ihe screw cap projects outwardly from the rear end of the body of the iron, and the wire gauze roll.

extends outwardly beyond the end of the body and nipple 4| into the cavity of the cap. I'herefore, the screw cap can be readily unscrewed and removed, and when removed, the gauze roll will ,be left projecting out of the bore beyond the outerl end of the nipple, so that the roll can be readily grasped and pulled out of the bore. The gauze roll provides a heat conducting body having an` extensive surface area, and when the water is admitted to the bore 20, it will fall on and spread o-ut in thin films on the Wires of the gauze and will be prevented-by the gauze from lying-in drops or pools in the bore. Therefore, the Waterwill be quickly converted into steam in the bore 2|! or, in case too great a volume of water is admitted to the bore, if any water passes as liquid from the bore 20 into the other bore 2|, -i't will likewise spread out on or over the gauze roll or cylinder in the latter bore, and all of thewater will be converted'into steam before it passes from the tained and the accumulation of the scale or sediment in the boresprevented. Because of the facility with which the gauze rolls can be removed and replaced, they can be frequently removed without objectionable labor or loss of time to clean them and the bores, and there is therefore not the probability of the scale or sediment being allowed to ,accumulate in the bores sufficiently to interfere with the eilicient generation of the steam and operation of the iron, as occurs in the use of irons which cannot be so easily cleaned. Also, the gauze rolls will not become cemented in the bores by the accumulation and baking of the scale, as happens in previous constructions, in which somewhat analogous elements have been employed in the steam passages, but in which they are left inaccessible when the passages are opened, so that the elements cannot be readily removed. Because of the greater inconvenience and labor in removingsuch elements in the prior constructions, they-are allowed to remain longer in the irons, often until they become cemented in thev passages, thereby making it practically'impossible to remove them or, if they can be removed, the use of the implement necessary for the purpose breaks or mutilates the elements so as to render them unt for reuse. These difficulties are eliminated by the Vdescribed construction, in which lthe caps 40, when removed, leave the gauze rolls projecting from the bores so that they can be grasped and pulled out.

The chamber 22 can be readily opened and cleaned out by removing its top cover. Since the steam will be superheated and thoroughly dried in its passage through the bore 20, chamber 22 and bore 2| before entering the steam passages in the bottom plate I0, these will not become fouled 'Y and will not require cleaning out under normal conditions. However, should this become necessary, the removable screw plugs afford access to the passages.

The water supply valve 26 is preferably a needle valve having a rotatable screw needle with a conical inner end cooperating with a small hole or seat in the inner end of the valve casing and communicating with the inlet fitting 28 for regulating the flow through the valve. The needle rodl 45 of the valve projects out of the valve casing through a suitable packing gland or box and extends forwardly of the iron above the cover I3, and has fixed to its forward end an operating arm or lever 46 which extends upwardly and inwardly toward the front end of the handle I4 of the iron so that the button or knob 41' at the free end of the lever is located in convenient position for operation by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle of the iron to open and close the valve 26.

48 represents a set screw which passes through and turns in a threaded hole in a bracket or part 49 located adjacent the front supporting arm for the handle |4of the iron. This set screw is located so that its inner end is adapted to be engaged by and serve as an adjustable stop for the actuating lever 46 of the valve. The valve is closed by a downward movement of the lever 46 and opened by an upward movement of the lever, and the opening movement of the lever is limited by engagement of the lever with the set screw 48. Thus, by adjusting the set screw in or out, the opening movement of the valve can be arrested when the valve has been opened to a Agreater or less extent, thereby regulating, as desired, the amount of water admitted by the valve, each time it is opened, tothe steam generating chamber\\20 of the iron. Since the valve is closed by movement of its .actuating lever 46 downwardly or away from the set screw, and is opened by movement of the lever upwardly or toward the by the set screw. The valve will always be opened the same amount so long as the adjustment of the set screw remains unchanged, and when the set screw has once been set to determinev the extent of opening of the valve, the valve can be quickly opened just this amount without the exercise of care or judgment on the part of the user of the iron, it being simply necessary for hlm to move the lever until it is arrested by the set' screw. In this way the amount of the water delivered to the steam generating chamber, when the valve is opened, can be regulated with precision, as required, and the amount of water delivered will be always uniform whenever the valve is opened. If more or less water is required, this can be effected simply by adjusting the set screw to control the extent of opening of the valve.

As shown, the lug 49 in which the set screw 48 turns projects from a bearing bracket 50 secured to the front arm of the handle i4 of the iron, said lug havinga split intersecting the threaded hole for the set screw and a screw by which the split portion of the lug can be drawn together to grip and securely hold the set screw in its adjustments. Preferably, a finger wheel 52 is fixed, as byy a nut 53, to the front end lof the valve rod 45 and the valve actuating arm 46 is adjustably secured on the hub of the finger wheel, as by clamping the split inner endofthe arm on the hub by a screw 54. Thus, the arm 46 can be loosened and the valve adjusted in or out by turning the wheel 32 and the arm again fixed to the wheel. This construction enables the valve to be set, if necessary, so that it will be opened a greater or less amount when arrested by the set screw, and also enables adjustments of the valve to compensate for wear.

While the pressing iron or device constructed, as illustrated in the drawing and hereinbefore described, is especially intended and desirable for use when the steam for discharge at the pressing face is generated in the heating chambers 2D, 2I'- -steam instead of water supplied to the heating chambers of thelevice for superheating or drying. Therefore, the device is' adapted for use in establishments equipped with steam generating installations. f

I claim as my invention: Y

1. A pressing device comprising a body having a chamber with an opening thereinto, a closure for said opening movable to uncover the opening, means for heating water in said chamber to generate steam, andan element in said chamber for receiving deposits from the water, said element being of a size and positioned in the chamber to project out through said'opening when said closure is moved to uncover the opening and being removable from the chamber through said opening.

2. A pressing device comprising a body having a straight passage extending thereinto from one face of the body, a closure for the outer end of said passage movable to open said -outer end, means for admitting water to said passage, means for heating the Water in said passage to generate steam, and a straight element which occupies 75- said passage for receiving deposits from the water and is of a length to f project out beyond the outer end thereof and is removable through said outer end when opened.

3. A pressing device comprising a body having a steam passage extending thereinto from a vface of the body, a closure for the outer end of said c Y chamber to generate steam, and an element which occupies said chamber for receiving deposits lfrom the water and is of a length to project; through said opening into the cavity of said hollow capand is removable from the chamber through said opening when said capis moved to uncover the c opening.

5. A pressing device comprising a body having a straight passage extending thereinto from one face of the body, a hollow cap which closes the Vouter end of said passage and is movable to open said -outer end, means for heating said passage and a wire gauze roll which occupies said passage and is ofv a length to project beyond the outer end thereof into the cavity of said hollow cap, so that when said cap is moved to open the outer end of the passage the end of the roll will project out of the passage and can be grasped to pull the roll out of the pas-sage.

6. A pressing device comprising a body having communicating straight passages extending thereinto from one end of the body, a closure for the outer end of each passage movable to open -said end, means ffor heating said passages,

means for admitting uid to one of said passages, and means for discharging steam from another of said passages, and a wire gauze J element which occupies each passage and lis of a length to project out beyond the outer end thereof and is removable through said outer end when the latter is opened.

7. A pressing device comprising 'a body having two straight passages extending thereinto from one end of the body, a chamber joining the inner rends of said passages to enable circulation from one passage to the other, a top cover for said chamber movable toA afford access to the chamber for cleaning it, a closure for rthe outer end of each passage movable to opent-said end, means for heating said passages, means for admitting fluid to one of said passages, and means for discharging steam from another of said passages, and a -wire gauze element which occupies each passage and is removable through said outer end when the latter is opened for removing deposits from the passage.

8. A pressing device comprising a body having two straight passages extending thereinto from one end of the body, a chamber joining the inner ends of said passages to enable circulation from one passage to the other, a removable top cover for said chamber affording access to the chamber forcleaning, a closure for the outer end of each passage movable to open said end for cleaning out .the passage, means for heating said passages, means foradmitting uid to one of said passages, straight bores in said device adjacent the pressing face thereof each extending into the device from a face thereof, said bores communieating with each other and with the second of said passages, a plug closing the outer end of each of said bores, and steam discharge orices leading from onesor more of said bores to the pressing face of the device.

9. A pressing device comprising a body and a\ bottom plate, a heating element between the body and bottomv plate for heating both, two,

straight bores extending into the body from one end thereof, means for admitting uid to one of said bores, a chamber joining the inner ends of said bores to enable circulation of iluid from said one bore to the second bore, removable closures for the outer ends of said bores whereby the bores can be opened for cleaning them, oblique bores extending into said bottom plate from its sideedges, longitudinal bores extend-l ing into said bottom plate from its rear end and connecting with said oblique bores, a transverse bore connecting said longitudinal bores and communicating with said second bore in said body, and steam discharge orices leading fromsaid oblique bores to the face of the bottom plate.

10. A pressing device comprising a body and a bottom plate, a heating element between the body and bottom plate for heating both, two straight bores extending into the body from one end thereof, means for admitting fluid to one of said bores, a, chamber joining the inner ends of said bores to-enable circulation of fluid from said one bore to the second bore, removable closures for the outer ends of said bores whereby thev bores can be opened for cleaning them, oblique bores extending into said bottom plate from its side edges, longitudinalbores extending into said bottom plate from its rear end and connecting with said oblique bores, steam discharge orifices leading` from said oblique and longitudinal bores to the face of the bottom plate, a transverse bore in the bottom plate communicating with said second bore in said body, and bores extending longitudinally in the bottom plate from said transverse b'ore to said oblique bores.

, FREDERICK J. CLARK. 

